The Save Jawai Wildlife (SJW) Conference 2025, organized by DJED Foundation in collaboration with local communities, brought together over 300 conservationists, policymakers, and grassroots activists. The event focused on protecting Jawai’s unique ecosystem, home to leopards, migratory birds, crocodiles, and diverse flora and fauna.

​

Representing NPN – The Nature People Network, Shreyansh Budhia (Founder) and Aditya Upadhyay (Director of Program Operations) attended the conference to share insights from NPN’s conservation work in Chhattisgarh and beyond.

​

Key Voices at the Conference:

​The conference featured several notable speakers, including:

​

Sonam Wangchuk, the renowned innovator and education reformist, who emphasized the need for sustainable tourism driven by local communities.

​

Dia Mirza, actress and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, who highlighted Jawai’s rare model of human-wildlife coexistence as a global example.

​

R.K. Jain (CCF, Jodhpur), who discussed the role of governance and policy in wildlife conservation.

​

Dilip Jain (DJED Foundation), who stressed the importance of uniting people for a sustainable future through community-driven initiatives.

These discussions reinforced the need for holistic conservation approaches that balance ecological preservation, community welfare, and economic sustainability.

​

Panel Discussion

Shreyansh Budhia was invited as a panelist for the discussion titled “History of Jawai, and How Can Humans Live in Harmony with Nature: Challenges and Opportunities.” The conversation revolved around coexistence, a principle that NPN actively promotes.

​

Mr. Budhia shared NPN’s work in Chhattisgarh addressing human-elephant conflict. He explained that NPN was invited by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Katghora to study and propose solutions for mitigating conflicts between humans and elephants.

​

One of the key findings from NPN’s research was the influence of casteism and tribalism on human-wildlife interactions.

In many villages:

The dominant caste or tribe occupies the village core.

The non-dominant communities live on the periphery, closer to the forest.

Elephants rarely enter the village core, leading to higher conflict risks for marginalized groups.

This underscores the social dimensions of conservation, highlighting that environmental solutions must also address societal inequalities.

​

​Movie Screening

As part of the conference, NPN had the opportunity to screen its short film, “The Last Frontiers of Coexistence.”

Directed and shot by Remi Vacher, an advisor to NPN, with production support from Shreyansh Budhia, Aditya Upadhyay, and Keshika Gokul, the documentary captures the delicate balance between humans and wildlife in Katghora, Chhattisgarh.

​The film highlights:

• The coexistence of villagers with sloth bears, an example of traditional harmony with nature.

• The presence of hyenas near the village, showcasing the region’s rich biodiversity.

• The government’s efforts to track elephants as a strategy to mitigate human-elephant conflict, demonstrating how technology and local engagement play a role in conservation.​

 

Other Conference Highlights

In addition to panel discussions and film screenings, the conference featured:

​

A Jawai Safari, showcasing sustainable eco-tourism and its challenges.

A visit to a plastic recycling plant, operated by Kanji Chaiwala, demonstrating how small-scale initiatives can drive significant environmental change.

​

Panel discussions on:

Eco-Tourism & Community Welfare – How safaris and homestays can benefit both wildlife and locals.

Plastic Waste Management – Tackling pollution through grassroots efforts.

Saving Jal, Jungle, Jameen – Protecting water, forests, and land in the Aravalli region.

 

​

​